Muzaffarabad: (Parliament Times) The government of Azad Kashmir is all set to celebrate the 70th founding day of Azad Jammu & Kashmir government with traditional zest and zeal.

With a view to highlight the significance of the day, the government of the region has announced to observe week long celebrations in connection with 70th foundation day of the government of the state of Azad Kashmir that will start from 23 October to 30 October 2017.

Meanwhile, a meeting to review the preparations for celebrating the national event was held under the chairmanship of Acting Prime Minister Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan here on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Inspector General Azad Kashmir Police Shoaib Dastagir, Principal Secretary Ehsan Khalid Kayani, Secretary Services Choudhary Liaqat, Secretary Finance Fareed Tarrar, Secretary PPH Khawaja Ahsan, Secretary Kashmir Liberation Cell Idrees Abbasi, Secretary Education Schools Raja Amjad Pervez, Secretary Industry and Trade Tariq Masood, Commissioner Muzaffarabad division Sardar Zafar Mahmood, Director General Tourism Sardar Javed Ayub, Director General IT Dr. Khalid Rafiq, Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Masood-ur-Rehman, Deputy Inspector Generals and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarabad attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion the acting PM Raja Nisar said that the national event would be celebrated with traditional zest and zeal. Terming freedom as one of the greatest blessings of God he said, “We must value this blessings as much as we can”. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure full participation of people in the event to make it all inclusive. He said that people of Azad Kashmir will observe real freedom on the day when people of IOK will achieve freedom from Indian occupation. Lauding the sacrifices of the people of Indian held Kashmir he said that the day was not far when people of the IoK will get freedom from Indian subjugation.

The participants of the meeting agreed in principle that the day will dawn with 21 gun salute and the AJK police, as usual, will organize the foundation day parade and national flag shall be hoisted atop all the government buildings. Speech contests and cultural show will be held on mark the day whereas medals would be given to those police officers/police personnel who performed exceptionally well in the line of duty. AJK University is scheduled to hold a grand ceremony at its main campus, which would be attended and addressed by the president of Azad Kashmir Sardar Masood Ahmed Khan, legislators, ministers, intellectuals and representatives of the civil society hailing from Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.

It may be recalled here that the Day is being observed every year to celebrate the founding anniversary of Azad Jammu Kashmir government, which was established on this day (on October 24) way back in 1947 after the territory (AJK) was liberated by the valiant sons of the soil from the clutches of the despotic Dogra ruler.